Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Whoa, He's Crazier Than I Thought
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Whoa. He's crazier than I thought.
"Hahaha! This puts me in such a great mood!"
"That guy's a real riot, isn't he? Hahaha!"
Ahh.
This must be Olympus.
Seeing the elders reveling in their booze-fueled feast with such satisfaction, it truly felt like a banquet of the gods.
Why?
Because they were the 'lords'.
In modern society, landlords are gods!
Even one alone radiates a halo-like aura, but with eight gathered here, our humble restaurant instantly transformed into a top-tier establishment.
Today was the day our building owner's acquaintances were meeting up.
A regular gathering of landlords scattered across the US, apparently.
When they first walked in, I thought they were just neighborhood grandpas stepping out for a casual drink.
But catching sight of the black-suited attendants waiting outside made me shrink back a bit without realizing it.
At the same time, I resolved to give them the absolute best service today.
I'd prepared extensively for this.
I'd asked our building owner ahead of time about the average age of the attendees and steered clear of any ingredients they might be allergic to.
Rather than going overboard, I figured showcasing the most ordinary Korean table—essentially a standard home-cooked meal—would feel more special.
Bibimbap topped with sweet gochujang, hearty doenjang jjigae loaded with beef, soft rolled omelet and fluffy steamed eggs,
and neat little side dishes.
"This is standard Korean home cooking."
I introduced it that way, and they all eyed it with curiosity.
The moment they dug in, satisfied expressions bloomed across their faces.
"Heh heh, your go-to spot, eh? Definitely delicious."
"Usually after a meal, my stomach feels all queasy, but not here. This is real healthy food."
Before long, the other landlords who'd finished eating were showering praise on our building owner.
"Right? I've been coming three times a week lately. Heh heh heh. We've gotta watch our age now. Can't just carve up steaks every day. Ah! Hoon?"
"Yes, sir."
"Got any booze by chance? We've eaten our fill—time for a drink."
"Figured as much, so I prepared some homemade liquor."
"Oh~ Is that right? Sounds promising. Get it ready."
"Yes, sir."
I headed straight to the kitchen and fired up the griddle for the seafood green onion pancakes I'd prepped and fermented earlier.
Just needed to cook them, so it was quick work.
Thick, golden-brown pancakes piled high on a large platter, looking mouthwatering. Dong-hyun served them carefully.
Then I emerged from the fridge with the makgeolli I'd freshly brewed that morning.
I carried the bottles of homemade makgeolli to the table.
Dong-hyun had already set out bowls for everyone while serving the pancakes.
"Oh~ What's this?"
One elder eyed the white liquor curiously.
I smiled and set the bottle down on the table.
"This is makgeolli, a traditional Korean liquor."
"Made from rice?"
Our building owner asked, intrigued.
"Yes. They call it rice wine overseas."
I popped the cap on a makgeolli bottle and started filling the bowls with the thick, milky brew.
A faint, sweet-and-sour aroma wafted through the air.
"Makgeolli's best enjoyed brimming full in bowls like this."
I filled the last one and gestured to the golden pancakes.
"And it pairs perfectly with the seafood green onion pancakes right in front of you."
I held up one bowl demonstratively.
"Alright, everyone—give it a sip."
The elders lifted their white bowls with keen interest.
I watched their reactions, tense.
They brought the cloudy makgeolli to their lips, sipping cautiously with eyes full of curiosity.
"Huh!"
The first reaction came from the elder from Texas.
"This... really booze? It's sweet, kinda like milk... but the finish has a slight tang, like yogurt."
The others nodded in agreement.
"Exactly. Not harsh at all—goes down so smooth."
Said the tanned elder from Florida.
"Gives me a bit of a champagne vibe too? That fizzy kick."
Commented the sharp-suited one from New York.
Our building owner chimed in with a grin.
"Hits different with the seafood pancake."
Everyone tore off a piece, dipped it in soy sauce, and chased it with makgeolli.
"Oh!"
"Oho!"
Exclamations erupted everywhere.
"No kidding! This cuts right through the pancake's richness!"
"Perfect combo. All that greasiness vanishes."
"Makgeolli, was it, Hoon?"
"Yes, sir. Makgeolli."
"This stuff's the real deal. Mind if I take some home?"
"Sorry, it spoils fast—I'd recommend enjoying it here."
"Haha. That's code for 'come back,' right?"
The elders seemed utterly hooked on this novel makgeolli.
The bowls emptied in no time, and I hustled to refill them from fresh bottles.
The mood turned warm and lively fast.
Makgeolli had sealed the deal.
Why makgeolli? Simple.
How many top-shelf liquors have these folks tasted in their lives?
Makgeolli's a working-class brew in Korea.
The wealthy crave novelty.
What haven't they tried?
I aimed straight for their curiosity.
Seafood green onion pancakes are so crowd-pleasing abroad, they're dubbed 'Korean pizza'.
Topped with makgeolli.
Word-of-mouth drives customers.
I don't know exactly how loaded they are.
But connections like these could pay off big someday in the US.
That's why I went all out.
The gathering was a smashing success.
"Hahaha! Hoon, fantastic meal."
"Ah~ It's too far from where I live..."
"If you're ever thinking of opening up near us, hit me up. I'll hook you up with a prime spot."
"Thank you, sir."
As they left, each handed me their business card.
Straight-to-the-point ones—name and direct line only.
They must've loved the food.
I politely offered mine in return.
These... gotta keep 'em safe.
Could be huge for franchising later.
After seeing them off, Dong-hyun and I got to cleaning up.
"Whoa. He's crazier than I thought."
Dong-hyun stared at me, utterly baffled.
"Why? What's that mean?"
"So... your endgame is franchising to spread Korean food across America like Japanese sushi?"
That's right.
For all the K-food and kimchi hype, sushi and rolls still dominate popular perception abroad.
Hallyu has helped shift views on Korean food, but it's still not mainstream enough.
Sure, there are Korean spots in the US, but mostly in Koreatowns or limited to stuff like chicken or BBQ.
Why?
Because running a place like my babsang is tough here on multiple fronts.
"Isn't it badass? Picture this: everyday Korean home cooking casually on American tables. No Michelin dreams. Just kimbap like sushi rolls, spicy pork stir-fry like pizza delivery. Rewiring diets entirely. How epic is that?"
"What the hell, you moron. You Dan-gun reincarnate or some shit? Hongik human bullshit."
Dong-hyun doused my grand vision.
"Fine, say you manage the stores yourself. But ingredients? Yeah, farms, but you loaded? To compete on price, need massive scale for economies—we're nowhere near."
Tch.
"Not saying franchise tomorrow. Just sharing the goal early. It's not about 'holy shit, delicious!' but 'eh, casual spot... hmm, craving Korean today.' Like how we go 'let's smash some spicy pork or gukbap.' Make it everyday mass-market. We just focus on how."
"Ah, shit... sounds simple but fucking impossible."
Dong-hyun scratched his head.
"Oh, right—I do food volunteer at church every other week. Wanna come?"
"Church? I'm atheist... never set foot in one."
"Psh, just feeding the needy. Your weekends free anyway. Met Lily there, remember? Hang with me, who knows—maybe snag a girlfriend. Gets lonely solo abroad."
His eyes wavered at my words.
He was hooked.
"Ahem... not about girls! I live here too—gotta build community! Yeah, count me in."
Heh heh.
Tough solo, but reeled him in.
Clocked that jealous side-eye whenever he saw me with Lily.
Heh heh heh.
What do you think is most crucial when choosing to immigrate?
For me, it's seamlessly blending into the local community.
That's why, since arriving in Berkeley, I've made a point to join volunteer work or local events whenever possible.
Why?
America's super individualistic, but weirdly gung-ho about community service or block parties.
Thanks to that, I met Lily volunteering, and folks around here started viewing me favorably for my regular do-gooder routine.
'Solid young guy from Korea.'
'Cares for struggling neighbors.'
That rep naturally funneled customers to my shop.
'Might as well support a familiar face.'
Plenty came to Babsang with that mindset.
For any business owner, visibility is key everywhere.
Why?
People flock more to shops they know than strangers'.
Reciprocity, social proof, desire for ongoing ties.
A cocktail of psych factors at play.
Since it stems from valuing relationships and social worth, holing up in-shop beats showing face at every local event to draw crowds—that's the owner's real job.
And that's exactly why I brought Dong-hyun here.
"Enjoy!"
"Thanks."
Dong-hyun handed out lunchboxes, flashing a beaming smile you rarely see from him.
I greeted Pastor Liam as usual and introduced Dong-hyun as my buddy from Korea.
Mentioned we'd volunteer together going forward.
Pastor Liam welcomed him with his signature warm smile.
Then the lunchbox distribution kicked off proper.
Remembering how Lily once left empty-handed, I'd prepped extra generous today.
So why was Dong-hyun grinning ear-to-ear?
I knew the reason.
The heartfelt thanks from folks receiving the meals.
That lit up his brain's reward circuits, flooding him with happiness hormones.
The guy looked blissed out.
When we first pulled up to church, he'd scanned for cute girls with those cold, predatory eyes.
But now? His gaze was fixed solely on the needy expressing genuine gratitude.
His original motive? Long forgotten.
I shook my head and muttered to him.
"Dork."
"Ah, buzzkill on a good day, you psycho. I'm in a great mood—don't harsh it."
He brushed me off and handed the next lunchbox with that bright smile.
And just like that, Dong-hyun began weaving into Berkeley's community alongside me.